The CNN anchor, who frequently serves as a guest co-host on the daytime talk show, will be staying put on the cable network.
Anderson Cooper has no intention of quitting his day job.
The CNN anchor, whose profile has risen amid a tumultuous election season, has signed a new long-term deal to remain at CNN, thus taking himself out of the running to be Kelly Ripa’s co-host on ABC’s Live, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.
Cooper informed his staff at CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 last week. He also, of course, let good friend Ripa know that he would not be joining her permanently, though he will continue to fill in on the program. Cooper’s new CNN contract does still include a carve-out for Cooper to appear on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, where he does several pieces each season.
Cooper was Ripa’s top choice to replace Michael Strahan. And given the way ABC handled Strahan’s departure in favor of a full-time gig at Good Morning America, Ripa may have had enough leverage to get her way. Cooper was also her choice back in 2012, but executives convinced her to get behind Strahan.
But Cooper has always maintained that CNN was his top priority. And it is a job that requires much travel. At the same time, the volatile election season has kept all news divisions busy; Cooper will co-moderate the second presidential debate Sunday with ABC's Martha Raddatz. In the end, he deemed it would be too difficult to do both, say sources close to the anchor.
Live, which is produced by WABC, the network’s owned station in New York, is still auditioning co-hosts for Ripa. And Cooper is on the docket for Wednesday, Oct. 12. Those in rotation have included Fred Savage and Neil Patrick Harris. But Harris recently said he is not interested in the gig full-time.
(Please click on above link for original story. The story has been reported from many outlets, but The Hollywood Reporter was the one to break the story.)

6 comments:

Anonymous
said...

TONIGHT ON 360 THE HEADLINE READ TRUMP'S SON ERIC SAID FATHER DID PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.ANDERSON WAS SPEAKING TO HIS PANEL OF TRUMSTERS AND BOTH BLONDE AMBITION AND 'MOB BOSS' COREYLEWENDOWSKI BOTH SAID THAT THE MEDIA WAS "STUCK" ON TRUMP'S INCOME TAX RETURNS OR LACK THEREOF, AND THEY WANTED TO MOVE ON TO OTHER ISSUES.IT WAS ANDERSON'S OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND SAY "SO WHY THAN DOESN'T TRUMP PUT AN END TO THEENDLESS BICKERING AND RELEASE HIS CURRENT TAX RETURNS. NOT RELEASING THEM JUST MAKES IT WORSE AND SUSPICIOUS AND HOW DOES ERIC, HIS SON, KNOW DADDY PAID INCOME TAX IF HE FAILS TO SHOW THE RETURN HARD COPY.HOPEFULLY HE WILL USE MORE THOUGHTFULNESS AND THOROUGHNESS WHEN HE'S THE MODERATOR ON SUNDAY.LIKE THE PIX OF NEW PUPPY LILY....LOOKS JUST LIKE THE LATE MOLLY.

Wednesday's 360 was almost entirely about politics. Unfortunately today I was feeling more than the usual degree of political burnt-out-ness. Here's the bare bones of what was in the first hour:

- 20 seconds on Hurricane Matthew before analyzing last night's Veep debate and theorizing what will happen in the next Prez debate. Jim Acosta and then Dana Bash had details on both and on Trump's upcoming town hall in New Hampshire as prep for Sunday's town hall format debate. Although I didn't watch everything or the panels, I think Dana Bash had the only mention of Hillary Clinton in the first hour. A panel of 6 started. I was glad it was mostly women but I knew they would talk mostly about Trump so I left.- A brief mention that Trump's tax advisor, Mitnick, will be talking to the media but apparently not here. After a clip of Eric Trump telling Dana Bash '...my dad pays tremendous taxes...' Anderson interviewed "Trump Nation" author Tim O'Brien about Trump's wealth (real and imagined) and taxes. Panel again which I didn't watch.- "Will Pence's "Mexican Thing" Remark Cost Votes?" Anderson overview and Q&A with Ana Navarro and Steve Cortes about the Hispanic vote, Pence, Trump and immigration. - Anderson interviewed Ralph Nader about 3rd party candidates and their impact.- Hurricane Matthew.

HUFFPOST HAD AN INTERESTING ARTICLE THAT SAID IN A TRUMP PRESIDENCY, GFB, PENCE WOULD HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE BECAUSE HIS BOSS KNOWS SO LITTLE ABOUT SO MUCH. EXCEPT FOR TRADE, ANDSOME MINOR DEALINGS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRUMP WOULD BE COMPELLED TO DEFER TO PENCE'SJUDGEMENT, ON MOST ISSUES JUDICIAL, DOMESTIC, AND CONGRESSIONAL. IT IS FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP, AS PRESIDENT, WOULD BE NOTHING MORE THAN A "FIGUREHEAD OF STATE," SOMETHING LIKE THE QUEEN MOTHER, ONLY SHE RULES BY TRADITION.TRUMP WOULD NOT RULE/GOVERN, OUT OF MERE STUPIDITY. THEREIN LIKES THE DIFFERENCE.YES, "LET'S MAKE AMERICA GREAT, AGAIN.

@CAPPY - I think you're mostly right about the Trump/Pence presidency if, heavens to murgatroid, they win. Pence will be doing a lot except for trade deals, business guidelines and tax changes that would benefit Trump. More people should be highly skeptical of Trump's claim that he wants to be President "to make America great again" instead of lining his own pockets. As if a blind trust headed by his three oldest kids would be enough to keep Trump from trying to shovel as much government money as possible to his own companies. He's doing this already with GOP money, raising rents in his building on offices leased to the GOP and having events held in Trump buildings. If Trump is President he'll declare an American business can set up in Cuba but only with U.S. government approval. And who will get the first okay for hotels and golf courses in Cuba? Trump's kids!

After 9/11 Trump at first said his building on Wall Street had no damage but later he got $150,000 from a government fund meant to help small businesses in NYC's Financial District hurt by 9/11. Just imagine if a hurricane brushed by Mar-A-Lago. Minimal damage if any but the owner - Trump - recives millions from the government meant to help ordinary Joes and Janes fix their homes.

Lastly, the Queen Mother died years ago. Her daughter Queen Elizabeth II is head of the monarchy and I wouldn't mind it if, if Trump wins, the U.S. government set up a system just like theirs - Trump would be the figurehead trotted out just to cut ribbons, wave to people and pat dogs on the head while the Prime Minister is the one actually in charge. A Prime Minister just like they have... A WOMAN!!! Theresa May took charge as Prime Minister just this year.

The thought of Pence running the country is just as scary as Trump running it--maybe even more since Trump doesn't seem to really have any genuine principles but is just out there saying whatever it takes to keep up the appearance that he's a true conservative when he's actually been all over the place politically. Pence is a real right wing extremist whose views on LGBT rights and abortion are way out of step with the majority of Americans. Republicans like Pence and Kaisch seem like 'nice' guys until you examine their policies/records closely.

So I guess AC really meant it when he said once that he'd like to stay at CNN forever. I get frustrated with him and the direction of the show but I'm also pretty accustomed to him being a part of all the big news events and it would be weird if he were gone for good.

@JAANZA: JUST THE THOUGHT OF SEEING HIS FACE AFTER NOVEMBER 8TH MAKES BE WANT TO VOMIT.SORRY. TRUMP IS EVEN INCAPABLE OF WAVING IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER AND AS FOR PATTING DOGS ON THEHEAD, HE'NEVER WAS AN ANIMAL LOVER. ALTHOUGH BILL MAHER IS QUITE CERTAIN TRUMP'S FATHER WAS AN ORANGUTAN. THEY DO HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS: LONG ARMS, WITH HOOKED CLAWS AND FEET ANDARE REDDISH ORANGE, GENERALLY RELATED TO APES.NOW TRUMP IS PRACTICING DEBATING AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS, A SUGGESTION FROM HIS FRIEND CHRISTIE.LUCKILY CNN IS SPENDING MORE TIME ON HURRICANE MATTHEW IN FLORIDA. WHAT A SHAME THEY HAVE TOINTERRUPT FULL COVERAGE OF EVERYTHING TRUMP.LOOKING FORWARD TO SUNDAY'S DEBATE IF ONLY TO SEE HOW AC HANDLES THE QUESTIONING AND FOLLOW-UP. I DARE HIM TO SAY: "MR TRUMP YOU FAILED TO ANSWER MY QUESTION AND PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPTSECRETARY CLINTON BY YELLING "WRONG."